But the coach only had words of praise for the club icon on Saturday, stating: "In our last two games, the team has played well defensively, and he has been a part of that.

"I liked how he played against Celta as well (in the Copa del Rey last week), rising to the occasion to give his team a boost. Nevertheless, it is still too early to tell if he will play against Valencia on Tuesday."

The Liga champions will now turn their attentions to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, when they host Ernesto Valverde's Valencia at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.